Cottages and Roses Paintings #1

Before the main event below begins, let me say one thing.

For quite a while now I've wanted to do a tutorial on photography. I've made notes and note of things and narrowed it down to a few very simple points that might help other women on their road to taking excellent photos. I didn't do this with an air of superiority because the Lord knows how lacking I am in anything "superior" but I truly did it with the intent of helping women achieve beautiful photos for blogging and/or ebay or whatever your intent is with your photos. With that intent in mind I've finished it after several months of note taking and thinking and about a week of actual "working" on it intensely and came up with it yesterday. With that being said, you'll now find it on the right sidebar just below my laundry room. It is not meant to criticize! It is truly intended as a help to those of us who struggle through this relatively new experience of blogging, selling, digital cameras and all things 21st century. I say go forward, chicks, and conquer this one because there will be a new one by a new entrepreneur any day now. How wonderful it is to live in these times of new inventions!! As Charles Dicken said and it is certainly true in our times today: "It was the worst of times and the best of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness." I don't know about you gals, but I have a bright future ahead for me. I'm positively loving living at this time of the world. Be of good cheer, be happy, be kind, be prayerful, be a friend, be a doer. We have much waiting for us if we get through with the help of our Lord. I don't fear because I know he is in charge - no one else.
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I was searching the web a couple of weeks ago for some cottage or roses prints and came across this artist and just adored her work. In some of her paintings she seems to replicate the old masters, but in some she's just as froufrou-y as the rest of us. She even has a few "country" or "primitive" paintings. Those aren't my favorites so I didn't include any of those in here. So take a look at the first of many I'll be displaying in the next week or two. I think you'll love her as much as I do. Her name is Barbara Mock if you'd like to "google" her paintings.
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A lovely white picket fence with a rose arbor along a stone path.

A bouquet of dusky pale pink roses.

Some victorian women on a lake watching a regatta through a garden gate nearby.

A country shelf with pansies, tulips, a gardening sign and a bird nest.

The quintessential garden shed.

Potted flowers.

Another "old masters" looking painting of lush flowers.

A garden spot most of us dream about from time to time.

A spot to repose inside a potting shed.

A tablescape vignette.

More to follow soon...........

Another Beautiful Valentine Swap

Happy Valentines Day to all of you!!

My ebay group did a valentine swap also. They have spoiled me for almost 3 years now with their love, humor and gorgeous crafts given to me. I cannot say enough about these women. I was partners with Shirl of Shirlsrosecottage this time. This woman does the most gorgeous silk ribbon embroidery. Shirl has been doing it a long time and does exquisite work.

But Shirl sent me my favorite kind of candy — coconut and almonds. It's almost all gone and I just got it a couple of hours ago. I'll TRY and leave some for Love Bunny but first come first eater is my motto!! :-)

But look at this beautiful little fleece embroidered roses hearts banner. It is fantastic in person, let me tell youuuuuuuuu!! I'm hanging it in a very special place also.

And Shirl does lovely cards also.

And this little valentine pillow with embellishments galore. I cannot tell you how much she has thrilled me today. I am truly blessed by these women. Truly!!!!!

In the Garden of Earthly Delights.......

About this time of year we're all wishing for some greenery, flowers and warm breezes. At least that's how it is here in Idaho, so I thought I'd share a couple of pictures of some beautiful gardens.

Just imagine walking with a loved one beneath this allèe..........

Or sitting in this beautiful garden of roses in a sunny part of France..........

Or meandering down this azalea strewn path with a child and showing him or her the delights of a "secret place"..........

Or picking the sunflowers growing on the side of this old weathered barn..........

Or leisurely floating in a row boat on this beautiful lake..........

Or playing hide-and-seek with your hubby or sweetheart in this park..........

Or passing a few private moments on this old park bench while gazing at those lovely pink rhododendrons..........

Or watching birds flitter about in this bird bath while listening to the tinkle of water while maybe even floating a tiny boat in it..........

Or walking down this pansy strewn path in the shade of the trees with hostas growing underneath them..........

Or glimpsing these beautiful pink, red, purple, orange and yellow majestic tulips..........

Or lying on the bench while dreaming of lovely anemones just within your reach..........

Or climbing these lichen or moss covered stone steps to a secret place known only to you and a loved one..........

Yes, just sit and dream of the new awakening of the earth during these winter months. Ahhhhh, the anticipation. It enlightens my soul!

Fashionista Shoes

Okay, now don't gag or retch, chicks, but this old pair of shoes is my favorite flat pair of shoes. These are size 8 1/2 M so why am I now wearing 9 1/2 -10 W? They still fit but they are absolutely falling apart. Sole, insides, toes. Hubs said they've given up the ghost and to just bury them. They've always been bright candy apple red but I had to paint them with shoe color about 10 years ago because polishing wouldn't do it anymore. They're about 25 years old. Macy's, of course! I wish I could find another pair like them but I can't. None that fit the toes as well as these. I think I'm going to cry........ Excuse me while I go grieve a bit.

Back........I wonder if I saved the heel could I put it on another shoe? Hmmmmm, I've been having "separation" issues here I know. I would put clip on bows on them and ............okay, okay, time to let go.
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Okay, I took the new pair of high heels I ordered and that finally fit and jazzed them up a bit with some vintage millinery roses. While they don't even come close in comparison to the shoes below I'm happy with them. It's been sooooooo long since I've worn a pair of heels so let's hope I don't kill myself on sunday when I wear them to church. I shall also make some ribbon clip ons for these shoes. I may do a black ribbon but I'm going to have several different colors to go on this shoe so it'll change the look without buying any more shoes. What?!!?!? Did I actually say that?!?!?! I must be getting sick or something.........

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I was looking for some clips for shoes recently and came across these handmade shoes. Are they not incredible?!?!?! Squeeeeeeeeal. If I wore heels a lot—and I don't— I'd buy these in a heartbeat. They're designed and made by a woman in England who obviously has a lot of talent. Although I can't "make" shoes like she does, I can at least take a hint and froufrou them up with some bows, vintage millinery roses and such. So that's what I did with the above shoes. See what we can do to save money. Fix up an old pair of comfy shoes.

Are these simply adorable or what?! I love these shoes. The right one looks different than the left one. Clever, huh?

Bows and flowers.

Heel glamour with cutout toe!!

Even her insides have pizzazz.

Not your granny's old shoes, are they?!

I don't think any two are alike. I haven't seen any yet. Buttons on your toesies.

Looks like a silk kimono.

These are one of my favorites. Look at how red they are. And those bows??? Whooooaaaa, just adorable!

These are my favorite I think. Just kinda flirty and sassy. Too high for me though. *Sigh*...................

Talk about your s*xy shoe!! I'll bet even the hollywood elite doesn't have anything this cute.

I love these bows but dragging them on the ground would get them awfully dirty in a short time, so I think I'd make them a bit shorter for the shoes I may do something with. We'll see.

Fun for valentines day or a first date. Would he just faint all over ya with these on, chicks?!?! Yesssssssssssss...........

I truly don't know how women walk in these mules but these are cute. I'm be sitting on my backside if I tried this one though. ;-)

I think she used a lot of different fabrics on this one, but she has talent, I tell ya.

Another pair that are my favorites. You'd be the only gal at the party with a pair like this.

And these???? Look at that stitching. These look almost like a tropical shoe—something you'd wear to a formal luau. ;-)

I've never seen such fabrics as she uses. Gorgeous! Now just eat your heart out. These are the cutest shoes I've ever seen made by hand and a woman.

This woman knows what a woman wants! I adore these shoes.
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Now if you want some "no limit on the price shoes" then you might want a pair of Christian Louboutin shoes. His shoes usually run from a few hundred dollars to $2,000.00 and let me tell you there aren't many at the lower end! I'd say most of them are in the higher price range of several hundred dollars. But these little beauties are $6,300.00 and he's only making 3 dozen of them. Better hurry while you can get them. Oooooh, you recognize them because his soles are always red. Of course, they come in a designer box also. I'm not seeing a run on these from my neighborhood.